Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness

Race is on to improve International District’s ‘pharmacy desert’

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series examining a lack of pharmacies plaguing Albuquerque’s International District. The first story, “International District has become an urban ‘pharmacy desert,’” can be accessed here. Grabbing a prescription is likely taken a bit for granted by the average Albuquerque resident. There are pharmacy choices, it seems, at […]

Anatomy of an encampment

A private dirt lot located one block north of East Central Avenue in Albuquerque’s International District recently saw a swell of activity from an illegal encampment. About 50 people experiencing homelessness were living on the site that functioned as a makeshift community. There was considerable trash on the street and reports of burglary, vandalism, public […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Uncategorized, Westside Albuquerque

Veteran reporter returns to her roots to probe cold case of rookie cop shot in police station

This story was originally published at City Desk ABQ, a local nonprofit daily newsroom covering local government, politics and more. If you like this story, please support local, independent journalists like these by reading more and donating today at citydesk.org 16 stairs, 1 bullet and 36 years. I never knew Officer Stephen Sandlin in person, […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Uncategorized, Westside Albuquerque

Veteran reporter returns to her roots to probe cold case of rookie cop shot in police station

This story was originally published at City Desk ABQ, a local nonprofit daily newsroom covering local government, politics and more. If you like this story, please support local, independent journalists like these by reading more and donating today at citydesk.org 16 stairs, 1 bullet and 36 years. I never knew Officer Stephen Sandlin in person, […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness

International District has become an urban ‘pharmacy desert’

Not that long ago there were three large commercial pharmacies located within the boundaries of Albuquerque’s International District — Walmart, CVS and Walgreens — including a small independent one, Phil’s Pills. Today, only Phil’s Pills remains. The effect for residents seeking to fill prescriptions has become a problem with potentially dire consequences. “For some folks, […]

Heading Home will no longer run Westside shelter; city hasn’t found new operator

The embattled Westside Emergency Housing Center (WEHC) took another hit this month after the city was unable to find an operator to run it starting July 1. Two organizations applied for a $4.1 million annual contract, but officials said their proposals were “unsatisfactory, incomplete and ineligible.” Operator Albuquerque Heading Home, whose current three-year contract expires […]

City Council hears from the public — and some stuffed animals — at Monday meeting

A packed chamber greeted the Albuquerque City Council for a five-hour meeting May 6 where the council spent some money, approved getting some grant money and heard heartfelt public comments about immigration policies in the city. Standing Room Only More than a dozen residents turned out to voice their concerns about a proposed amendment that […]